Bright start for Zim at Region Five karate champs

Sports Reporter

For the greater part of the opening day of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Karate Championships at the City Sports Centre yesterday, Zimbabwe National Karate Federation (ZNKF) president Joe Rugwete cut the figure of a proud dad who had just seen his child take their first steps.

As Africa Karate Federation vice president, a lot was expected of him when he welcomed some of the region’s top and upcoming martial arts nations, and he did not disappoint.

A coaching clinic, conducted by World Karate Federation instructor Professor Antonio Oliva Seba, was held on Friday, while the referees’ course was held yesterday.

Another practical session will be conducted today.

“We had a very successful technical course that was conducted by the renowned karate expert, Professor Seba, who flew all the way from Spain, courtesy of the World Karate Federation (WFK),” said Rugwete.

“How this came about was that we reached out to the WKF after we felt it prudent to capacitate our region. Our countries are poor and most can’t afford to travel to Europe to get the required experience, exposure and teachings on the new techniques in the sport.

“This is unlike our North African counterparts, who can simply cross over into Europe. It is very difficult for us, and this was the main reason behind having this course.

“We are richer after going through that course.

“We also had a referees course today, the statistics of which will only be known after the tournament, as they are actually being examined practically during the championships,” he said.

Approximately 450 athletes from seven Southern African countries are currently in the country for the championships.

The athletes are drawn from South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The hosts got the ball rolling with 10 medals during the opening day’s proceedings, which featured kata displays.

Team Zimbabwe coach Winston Nyanhete was pleased with his charges’ performance.

“The competition is going great; it has been a good turnout from the region,” said Nyanhete.

“This is day one of the competition and we mostly had athletes competing in the kata displays.

“We will definitely have a bigger group competing tomorrow (today) in the kumite categories across all age groups.

“So far, we have taken a couple of medals and we expect a lot more when we move to the kumite fights.”